Physical Activity level in doctors during Covid-19: An Online-based Cross-sectional study

Abstract

Physical activity is an important therapeutic strategy in reducing the severity of Covid-19 disease. There is lack of studies evaluating the level of physical activity among doctors who are the frontline responders of Coid-19 pandemic. The online survey aimed at evaluating the effect of Covid-19 pandemic on physical activity levels of doctors. About 266 Indian doctors with median age of 36 (31, 46) responded the anonymous survey consisting of demographic details and validated International Physical Activity Questionnaire short version questionnaire. Median MET-minutes/week and Inter-Quartile Range was used to describe the physical activity levels of the doctors. All the data analysis was done in STATA 12.1.Statistical significance was set at 0.05. Total median MET-duration of doctors was 834 (495, 1620) MET-minutes/week with 988(564.3, 2067.9) Kcal/week of total energy expenditure. Low, moderate and high physical activity level of doctors were 21.4 %, 54.5% and 24.1% respectively. Age, gender, doing Covid-19 duties and regular involvement in physical activity before pandemic have significantly affected PA levels. More than 55% doctors who reported high or moderate Physical activity before pandemic were doing significantly low physical activity during the pandemic (p<0.0001). Covid-19 pandemic has significantly affected the physical activity level in doctors. Doctors aged 31- 40 years performing Covid-19 duties during the conduct of the survey were at likely risk of performing low physical activity. However, those doctors who regularly engaged in physical activity before pandemic despite the restrictions were found to engage significantly in higher total MET-duration and expended higher energy.

Keywords

• Physical activity;
• Exercise;
• Physicians;
• Covid-19;
• Pandemics;
• SARS-CoV-2